Yesterday was one for the books. Tuesdays are always a highlight for me—I get to strap into the Atalante X exoskeleton for my weekly walking session. But this one started out, well, rougher than usual.
Things went sideways right from the start. My stair lift, which I rely on to get out of the house, stopped working halfway up. There’s nothing quite like being stuck mid-ride to get your heart racing for all the wrong reasons. Just as I managed to sort that out, my transportation decided to run 30 minutes late. It may not sound like much, but for someone like me, every minute waiting brings a little wave of anxiety. I kept checking the clock, worrying I’d miss my session entirely.
But somehow, I still made it with plenty of time to spare. Once I arrived, the day took a sharp turn for the better.
The session itself was incredible. I could feel right away that I was more efficient in my walking than I’d been the week before. Each step felt a little more natural, a little less robotic. One of the biggest milestones for me was reducing the exoskeleton’s assistance from 100% down to 25%. That’s only the second time I’ve managed to go that low, and it felt nothing short of amazing. There’s a strange thrill in feeling muscles wake up after decades of “vacation.” I joked with my trainers that calling them “dormant” was generous—they’d basically been on sabbatical!
What made this session stand out even more was how action-packed it was. We didn’t stick to one routine. Instead, we kept things fresh and challenging: forward walking, backward walking, squats, and more side-stepping than I’ve probably done in my entire life. I never realized how much work those sideways movements require, especially when you’re trying to get your trunk and hips to join the party. By the end, I was tired in the best way—a kind of tired that means you’ve pushed your limits and accomplished something real.
It’s easy to focus on the setbacks—like malfunctioning stair lifts or late rides—but days like this remind me how important it is to keep showing up. Progress is rarely a straight line. Sometimes it’s a staircase with a broken lift, or a schedule that refuses to cooperate. But with each session, I’m seeing changes—not just in my body, but in my confidence and determination.
I left the session feeling proud, grateful, and just a little bit more hopeful about what’s possible. Here’s to more action-packed Tuesdays and waking up every muscle, one step at a time.
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